Structural assembly



March 26, 1968 E. G. RENSZH 3,

STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY Filed June 6. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 EBERHARD G.RENSCH YINVENTOR.

March 26, 1968 E. e. RENSCH STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 6. 1966 EBER HARD s- RENSCHV INVENTOR.

E. G. RENSCIH STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY March 26, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheei 5 FiledJune 6, 1966 'EBERHARD G.RENSCH INVENTUR.

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March 26, 1968 STRUCTURAL AS SSSS LY l-l h V Ira-1|.

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EBERHARD G; CH

United States Patent 3,374,593 STRUCTURAL ASSEMBLY Eberhard G. Renseh,Lerchesbergring 24,

Frankfurt am Main, Germany Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.309,777, Sept. 18, 1963. This application June 6, 1966, Ser. No. 555,452Claims priority, application Germany, June 9, 1965, R 40,822; Dec. 21,1965, R 42,270 5 Claims. (Cl. 52--283) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREStructure of the type disclosed in copending application Ser. No.309,777, with one or more profiled columns supporting a slab composed oftriangular plates, the present improvement residing in the provision ofa column composed of complementary, rigidly interconnected verticalprofile members of constant horizontal cross-section serving asanchorages for the slab plates and for adjoining walls.

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser.No. 309,777 filed Sept. 18, 1963.

My present invention relates to an improved structural assembly for theerection of polygonal structural units having, for example, verticesdefining between them angles of, say, 60 as more generally described inmy copending application mentioned above.

In the aforementioned copending application, I have observed thatprefabrication of units to be assembled into building structure has beencharacterized hitherto by a limited variation in style and adaptabilityto unusual environments. To overcome these disadvantages, I have provided prefabricated units and structural elements Which incorporatesubstantially horizontal slabs composed of polygonal, more specificallytriangular, plates bearing edgewise upon one another so as to define afloor, roadway or platform of polygonal outline, in combination withmeans rigid with certain of these plates for supporting the slab and/orholding the plates together. Thus, I have found the use of triangularplates to be highly advantageous since, as observed in application Ser.No. 309,777, they represent the smallest building blocks capable ofbeing assembled into continuous geometrical figures of unlimited widthand length. The triangular plates can be grouped into square,rectangular or hexagonal subunits which, in turn, can be disposedcontiguously to expand the structure in rectangular, hexagonal ormodified configuration. For this purpose it is convenient to employtriangular slabs whose Vertices include angles which are aliquot partsof 180, such as isosceles right triangles or equilateral triangles.Moreover, the slabs are rigidly joined to associate upright members suchas walls, columns or other supports with the aid of frames or bracketsmatingly engaging suitably profiled peripheral portions of the polygonalplates. Special connectors are secured to the slabs for holding theirplates together, e.g. in form of a polygonal insert matingly engagingcomplementary recesses in these plates, preferably at the junctions ofthe vertices of several triangular plates together constituting arectangular or hexagonal subgroup. In that application, I have alsostressed that the columns joined to the slab may be of the configurationof the subgroup and can serve as a connecting member at the junctions ofthe vertices of several plates. These columns may be solid or tubularand mayserve as casings for a variety of utility ducts such as gas,water and drain pipes or electric cables. Thus, floor and roofstructures can be formed of polygonal outline with wall means rigid withthe floor and/or roof structure extending along edges of the polygonalslabs.

While slab and roof constructions of this character have been found tobe of significant advantage in structures which can be effectivelyerected with prefabricated units because of the versatility of theconfiguration of the slabs, it is also desirable to use a similarapproach in the prefabrication of room units, chambers or the like inwhich the walls adjoin angularly in the manner of cells and aresupported by uprights. Partition assemblies using columns and uprightframes to which wall panels are secured have been used widely tosubdivide existing structures or to develop and expand such structures.In addition they have been employed for the erection of prefabricatedindustrial and domestic structures. Such conventional frame, panel andcolumn assemblies require the walls of adjoining units to be at rightangles to one another and thus substantially limit the versatility ofconstruction.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to extendthe principles originally set forth in my application Ser. No. 309,777to prefabricated room units having upright columns and to permit therapid assembly of prefabricated structures with greater versatility thanhas been possible heretofore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a column or poststructure for prefabricated units which will facilitate thebuilding-block-type erection of a multi-unit structure with ease and atlow cost.

These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter areattainable, in accordance with the present invention, through theprovision of a composite column of at least partially closedcross-section made up of a plurality of angularly adjoining contiguousmembers extending the :full length of the column and having connectingformations including angles of substantially 60 with one another, bolts,rive-ts, or other fastening means being provided to secure the membersrigidly together.

At least some of the angularly adjoining members making up each columnare provided, in accordance with the present invention, with means-whichmay include the aforementioned connecting formationsfor .afiixinghorizontal elements to the columns at upper and lower portions thereofso as to constitute therewith frames for panels or wall means, orsupports for floor or ceiling slab structures, as set forth in mycopending application mentioned above, with the walls includingcor-responding angles with one another. The horizontal traverses orbeams may be constituted by metal profile bars or the slab arrangementsof copending application Ser. No. 309,777 and, in the latter case, acolumn in accordance with the present invention will be provided at eachof the vertices of a triangular slab structure. When profiles are usedas structural members in place of triangular slabs, the columns areadvantageously disposed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle withthe profiles extending along the sides thereof. It has been found thatthe 60 included angle between the connecting formations of each columnand the traverses spanning the columns While including corrspondingangles between them form a triangular unit which can be nested withother units or otherwise combined therewith to produce a grid-likearrangement characterized by great static strength. In a 60 grid inaccordance with the present invention it has been found possible to spandistances of up to 9 meters in two of the three dimensions of the gridWhile the third dimension is substantially unlimited. Advantage-ously,the horizontal traverses are profiles which lie in the plane ofslab-type floor and ceiling arrangements with the profiles completelyembedded in the horizontal slabs. Thus the profiles may be cast aroundwith concrete or may serve as connecting members between triangularpreformed slabs which, along their junction, files; the connectingformations at the upper and lower ends of the column likewise areconcealed in the floor or roof structures and, thus are not visible fromwithin the structural unit.

7 'According to one aspect of the present invention, each or some of thevertical columns are of completely closed cross-section and are formedfrom six iangularly adjoining and gene-rally similar profiled members ofchannel construction whereby the arms of the channel members can beconnected together with the members lying along sides of a hexagon.Similarly, the triangular plates can be equilateral triangles disposedabout a column of this nature in hexagonal configuration so thatcorresponding vertices of the triangular'plates bear centrally uponrespective faces or channel members of the vertical column. A hearingmember (e.g. of hexagonal cross section) can be disposed'centrally ofthese t-rinagular slabs for affixing them to the column or fixedlypositioning the slabs when 'a column is omitted. Alternatively, thecolumn itself may,

at its connecting formations with the horizontal slabs and/or profiledtraverses, serve as a hexagonal bearing member. When the column isomitted at the center of one of the hexagonal units or subgroups, thecenter-bearing member may correspond in configuration to the column andindeed may be a column section whose con necting formations are securedto the traverse members and the triangular slab to tie them together ina star configuration at the center of the subgroup. In this manner,selective columns may be omitted in assembling the structure so that thefloor and ceiling slabs can span relatively large distances withoutintervening uprights. The horizontal traverses and the profile memberssecured together to constitute the columns preferably are formed fromaluminum or coated sheet or band steel (e.g. sheathed in a syntheticresin or zinc plated-galvanized for protection against discoloration andagainst corrosion). According to a further feature of this invention,the arms of the channel-shaped column members may diverge from oneanother with an apex angle of substantially 60 and a half-angle of 30while being connected together in contiguous manner such that thejoined-together arms form connecting formations or flanges extendingoutwardly from the tubular core of the column. Alternatively, the armsof the channel members converge away from their bight portions withincluded angles of 60 and the channel members are connected along theiradjoining arms to form inwardly directed flanges enclosed by thecolumn-shell. Again, these inwardly directed flanges can constitute theconnecting members for the horizontal traverses even though they areconcealed by the: shell of the column formed by the closed array of thebights or webs of the channels. In this case', the bight portions I orwebs, may be cut away to receive the horizontal traverses at the upperand lower ends of the columns or at an intermediate location therealongso as to form windows through which the horizontal traverses can beflanged orlapped against the fianges' of the column. Moreover,'thecolumn should include at least two members whose connecting formationsinclude an angle of 60 between them but may have one or more channelmembers or profiles whose connecting formations define complementaryangles to a formation of another profiled column member whereby the twomembers can be joined together at right angles to support walls joiningone another at 90. Thus, a right-angle adapter can be formed by one typeof profile member and have a flange or arm,

completely conceal the procorresponding to an arm of a 60 channel memberas described above, which includes a 30 angle with theweb of the profileand thus can be connected to the arm of a '60 channel to definetherewith a right angle. Advantageously, the web of the channel membersmaking up a hexagonal-section column can have a width of about 10 cm.whereby the column can be used to support walls andpanel systems of suchthickness that conventional '4 7 a door structures, windowsfshelves andcupboards can be maintained therein. 7

This arrangement permits the rapid assembly from pre fabricated elementswhich: can be modified on the construction site of structures forindustrial and dwelling purposes with respect to both the outer shelland the interior 'wall arrangements. Essentially, for any structure,only the columns and horizontal traverses (profiles or triangular slabs)form the basic elements while the construction of the columns enablesadaptation of the system to particular needs. All of the parts arestandardized and can be interfitted as will be apparent hereinafter toenable rapid assembly of the system.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which;

FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional views through vertical columns ofhexagonal configuration in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a similar cross-sectional view through a column of triangularsection; V a 1 FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary perspective viewsillustrating the formations for attaching horizontal traverses to thechannel members of the columns of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of vertical columns inaccordance with this invention, illustrating how the basic channelmembers of the column may be used with angular adapters for right-angleconnection of walls;

FIG. 8 is a cr0sssecti0nal view through a traverse beam adapted to spana pair of columns in accordance with this invention; a

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a skeleton structure in accordance withthis inventionyand FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of ahorizontal slab arrangement adapted to be employed with the structuralmembers illustrated in FIGS. 1-9.

In FIG. 1,,I show a vertical column 1 (in cross-sec tion) adapted to beused at the vertices of horizontal members of the type illustrated inthe aforementioned copending application or at the vertices; ofstructural subunits of an upright frame or skeleton assembly asillustrated in FIG. 9 and described in greater detail below.

In accordance with the principles of this invention,the vertical column1 is composed of 6 contiguous angularly adjoining channel-shapedprofiles Ba of constant hori zontal cross-section running the fulllength of the column and composed of aluminum (e.g. formed by extrusion).or steel sheet or bands.

The channel cross-section of the profile members Ba imparts a V-sectionto them' with truncated vertices so that each channel has a flatupstanding web or bight por-' tion Zirom which arms 3. in the form ofvertical flanges extend. As indicated in FIG; 1, the arms 3. of eachchan-, nel include respective apex angles a with one another,

these angles being equal to 60 so. that the half angles 7 13 of the arms3 equal 30". In this embodiment, the webs 2 lie along the sides of ahexagon and the arms'3 of adjoining channel members Ba are juxtaposedand par cated entirely at a workshop for incorporation in thev framestructure as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Thecolumn, produced .by joining the arms 3 of the profiles Ba at theirconnecting formations 4, thus con 1 stitutes a hexagonal shell (definedby the adjoining webs 2 and illustrated at S), this tubularshellconstituting a duct or the like for utility purposes as illustratedin my' copending application identified earlier. From the tubular shellS, a plurality of angularly equispaced flanges F, defined by joining thejuxtaposed arms 3 running the full length of the column, extend radiallyto the corners of a hexagon and serve to support horizontal traverses(e.g. profiled beams or triangular concrete slabs) as will be apparenthereinafter.

In the modification of the column illustrated in FIG. 2, the profilemembers Bi making up the column have webs 7 which define a closed unitand lie. along sides of a hexagon. The arms 6 of the channel-shapedprofile members include with one another angles a of 60 and haverespective half-angles B of 30". As in the case of the column of FIG. 1,the arms converge toward the center of the hexagon and are juxtaposedwith the arms of adjoining profile members Bi while having connectingformations in the form of registering bores 8 through which rivets 8a orbolt assemblies 817 can be inserted. The column 5 thus is of hexagonalsection with a substantially larger enclosed area than that of FIG. 1and can also serve as a duct for utility purposes. The six profilemembers Bi extending the full length of the column 5 are generally of Usection with the arms or shanks of the U turned inwardly toward oneanother so that the arms and web of each member Bi lie along three sidesof a trapezoid. It will be apparent that the webs 7 form a shell S whichcompletely encloses and conceals the flanges F formed by connecting thejuxtaposed arms 6 of adjoining members Bi. Thus, the column 7 can beused in the interior of a structure and has no unsightly formations tointerfere with the esthetic effect.

In FIG. 3, there is shown a modified column 9 whose six profile membersBw have juxtaposed arms 10 extending the full length of the column. Thejuxtaposed arms 10 have aligned connecting bores 13 by means of whichthe members Bw may be joined together via rivets or bolt arrangements aspreviously described and which form flanges F to which the horizontaltraverses and cross members may be connected. The arms 10 of each of theprofile members Bw include angles a of, say, 60 with inwardly extendingarms 12. The arms 12 of adjoining profile members Bw are juxtaposed withone another and are formed with bores 13' through which bolt and rivetassemblies may be inserted. The arms 10 and 12 of each profile Bw extendfrom respective webs 11 with the webs of the six angle members defininga closed column shell S" of triangular section which can serve as autility duct and to which the cross members can be connected. The arms10 are perpendicular (i.e. at right angles) to the respective web 11while the arms 12 include respective angles [3 30 with the latter. Thisarrangement provides a connection, in a skeleton using 60 subgroups, forconnecting walls or support structures at right angles to each of theflanges of the hexagonal columns for which the column 9 may besubstituted. In FIGS. 4 and 5, I show how the horizontal traverses maybe connected to the respective profile or channel members Bi and Bw atthe upper ends of the columns of FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, the web 7 is cutaway at 7' in the channel member Bi of the column 5 to form a window Win to which the end of a channel 18a (here constituting the horizontaltraverses) can be inserted. The member 18 can be lapped against one ofthe projecting portions 6' of the arms 6 flanking the window W andconnected thereto via a bolt and nut assembly 18b. The same assembly canbe used for connecting the arms 6 at these projecting portions 6 intying the adjoining profile members Bi to one another. A similar windowcan be provided at the lower end of the member Bi or at any intermediatelocation therealong to permit corresponding traverse members to besecured to a respective arm 6 through a window. Similarly, a window W(FIG. 5) is formed in the web 11 of the profile Bw of the column 9 (FIG.3) so that a traverse (e.g. as shown at 18a in FIG. 4 or at 18 in FIG.8) can be aflixed to the arm 12 or the arm 10 through this window atprojecting portions 12 and 10 flanking the window. The windows W and Wmay be of a height corresponding to the thickness of the floor andceiling slabs which may also be provided with members extending throughthese windows for attachment to the columns.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, there are shown modifications of the column structurespermitting attachment of wall portions at right angles to one another inaddition to the attachment of partitions or horizontal cross memberswith 60 inclinations. Thus, FIG. 6 shows a column 30 whose closed shellis made up of the webs 2 of four angularly adjoining channel sections Ba(described with reference to FIG. 1) whose arms 3 are interconnected byrivets 4a or bolts 4b. The closed shell 8" of the column 30 is completedby one of the angle members Bw whose arm or flange 10 is joined by bolts'31 to the arm 33 of an adjoining channel Ba and extends at right anglesto the web 11 of this angle member. The arm 12 thereof is aflixed byrivets or bolts to the adjoining arm 6 of another channel member Bi(described with reference to FIG. 2) whose web 7 thus extends at rightangles to the web 11. The other arm of the channel Bi is connected tothe arm 33' of an adjoining channel Ba by bolts or rivets. Here, too,the exposed surfaces of the column 30 can be formed by the webs 7 and 11so that the column may appear to have all of its connecting formationsconcealed, the members Bi and Bw here replacing any sheathing orcovering layers. When walls are mounted upon the members 33, 7 and 11,the column 30 acts as a transition member for converting a 60 frameworkor skeleton system into a construction. In the modification of FIG. 7, Ishow another column 40 suitable for use in a 90 system and made up of aprofile member Bi flanked by and connected to a pair of profile membersBw. The column can be closed in a similar manner or can remain open as achannel. In either case, the arms or flanges 10 of the channels Bw serveto join connecting elements 14 or 15 to the column in a right-anglesystem. The connecting elements 14 and 15 may be conventional channelsin which glass panes 16 or wall panels 17 are fitted. Sealing gaskets 16and 15' of an elastomeric or synthetic resin material may be used tohold the glass panes and panels in place. This assembly can be used forjoining wall means in the same plane or for mounting-the wall means atright angles to one another.

The horizontal traverse member 18 of FIG. 8 may be used with the columnsillustrated in FIGS. 1-7 and, therefore, in place of the channels 18adescribed with reference to FIG. 4. The beam 18 is shown in end sectionand comprises a pair of juxtaposed strips 19 held together by bolts orrivets 19 passing through registering bores in these strips. Theprofiled strips are bent perpendicularly to their respective planes andinwardly to reinforce the strips along their edges and form supportsurfaces 20 designed to rest upon the columns after insertion throughwindows or to support slabs or other sheet-like flooring and roofingmembers. Centrally of the bent marginal portions 21, I provide a ridge22 so that the ridges of the juxtaposed strips form a channel or ductdesigned to stiffen the cross member 1 8 and to be used for utilitypurposes. The beam thus is equivalent to an I-beam or a pair of channelsin back-to-back relationship whose web is indicated at 23 and whoseflanges are reinforced at 21. While two such bands are shown joinedtogether in the preferred construction of FIG. 8, it will be understoodthat single bands of this nature, being generally of 'U-profile, can :beemployed as horizontal traverses in accordance with the presentinvention. The bands 19 are, moreover, connected independently of anymeans joining them to the upright columns.

In FIG. 9, there is illustrated a skeleton of a structure in whichcolumns 1 (made up of profile members Ba) and columns 5 (made up ofprofile members Bi) are interconnected at 60 angles by cross beams 18 atthe respective flanges. The surfaces 28 of the beams 18 support theceiling or roofing plates while the surfaces 28a carry the flooringplates. It will be understood, however, that the slabs of triangularconfiguration described and claimed'in my copending applicationmentioned above can be' disposed within the triangular confines formed 7the cross beams 18 in any'conventional manner. As indicated further inFIG. 9, the columns 1, etc. can have portions projecting beyond thelower traverse beams 18 for embedding in the earth or mounting asuitable foundation. If the latter expedient is used, the foundation mayconsist of a multiplicity of point-like footings for each of theuprights or columns. Alternatively, the traverses 18a .can support aroof structure for a basement in which case the footings for the columnswill be constituted as pillars or a wall-type foundation arrangement.Foundation plate assemblies as set forth in my copending application arealso advantageous for supporting the skeleton shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 10, there is shown a slab-like subgroup based upon the junctionof members at approximately 60 angles. Such a slab arrangement, usinggenerally triangular concrete plates, can serve toform the ceiling orfloor structures retained by the traverses 18 in FIG. 9. In the systemof FIG. 10, four trapezoidal frames 25 bearing upon a central hexagonalabutment member 24 are shown provided with respective triangularconcrete plates, also in the shape of isosceles trapezoids, while two ofthese frames are empty of them. Member 24 is spider-shaped and has sixoutwardly radiating arms 27 It will be understood that the frame 25 foreach of the trapezoidal plates can represent the frame defined by thehorizontal traverses 18 so that the concrete plates may be emplaoed inthe plane of the horizontal traverses or cast in these spaces. In themore general case, a slab construction as illustrated in FIG. willmerely be mounted upon the surfaces 28 and constructed as described inthe copending application. In that case, the abutment or spider 24 may'be a member similar to the corresponding column and may be axiallyaligned therewith for utility purposes or can be constituted by thecorresponding column or an extension thereof; this has been shown inFIG. '16.by the dot dash outlines of several slab portions 25, 26converging toward the axis of column 1.

The invention described and illustrated is believed to admit ofmanymodifications Within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all suchmodifications being considered within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

- I claim:

1. A structural unit for the joining of wall portions at differentangles to one another, comprising an upright column composed ofcomplementary vertical profile members of constant horizontalcross-section each having I an upstanding web and a'pair of verticalflanges inter-' connected by said web, and connecting means linking theflanges ofadjoining profile member to each other, at least one of saidprofile members having a first flange adjoin- Y ing the web thereof atan acute angle and a' second flange extending at right angles tothelast-mentioned web. 2. A structural unit as defined in claim 1wherein said acute angle is 311, said first flange extending radiallyin:

wardly. and said second flange extending radially outwardly of thecolumn.

3. A structure comprising a plurality of coplanar horizontal slabportions in the shape of isosceles trapezoids converging toward [acommon center; and supporting means for said plates including a columncomposed of complementary vertical profile members of constanthorizontal cross-section each having an upstanding web and a pair ofvertical flanges interconnected by said web, said profile members beingprovided with connecting means linking the flanges of adjoining profilemembers to'each other to form radially extending arms receiving saidslab portions between them and engaging the converging sides of thetrapezoids. I

4. A structure as defined in claim 3'wherein said slab portions includetrapezoidal frames spanned by trapezoidal concrete plates.

5. A structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said arms References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 991,603 5/1911 Brooks 52-729 X 1,052,207 1913Beckwith 52731 1,958,473 5/1934 Dovell 52236 X r 2,922,299 1/ 1960 Deam52127 X 2,959,256 11/1960 Deam 52237 3,152,366 10/1964 McCrOry et a1 52-231 X 7 FOREIGN PATENTS 299 9/ 1899 Austria. 761,416 1/ 1934 France.829,674 4/ 1938 France.

1.937 8/1863 Great Britain. 7

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED C. PERHAM, Examiner.

